2019: Vote for tested candidates, not gender, PDP senatorial flagbearer tells electorate

AS the 2019 General Elections draw nearer, Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) senatorial candidate for Lagos East, Princess Abiodun Oyefusi, has urged the electorate not to vote people into elective offices based on gender, but the capability of contestants to deliver and cause a positive turnaround of the present state of the country’s economy, stating that women had shown exemplary qualities in different areas of leadership that had positively shaped the societies of the world.

Oyefusi made this call on Friday while speaking with journalists at the National Stadium, Lagos, even as she called for proportional representation for women in government based on their population strength as women had never been presidents or governors in the country.

“In countries outside Nigeria, you don’t vote on the basis of gender, but the ability and what they have to offer, what they can deliver in the position.

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“We, women have proven beyond reasonable doubt that we have a lot to offer this nation. You can see around the world, we have women as one of the best managers, best governors.

“Right now, the best economy in the world is being headed by a woman and most of the changes effected in the world have been driven by women,” the PDP candidate said.

Speaking further on issue of lack of adequate representation for women, Oyefusi said: “In 2018, we are 60 per cent of the whole population and we have never had a proportional representation in politics. So, we need our 35 per cent. We need our women to be properly represented in all positions to be empowered.”

The party candidate, however, said it was about time a stop was put at the blame game in the country and look at how the nation could move forward, contending that there was no way development could come should leaders and the led kept on playing blame game.

“I think it’s about time we stop apportioning blame but rather spread the blame across. It is time to look at how we can develop our nation because if we keep playing blame game, how then do we develop? And we are supposed to learn from the mistakes of the past,” Oyefusi said.

The PDP flagbearer said going to the Senate in 2019 would be an opportunity for her to collaborate with others to make laws that would meaningfully impact the people of her constituency and women generally.

“I am coming to contest in order to help strengthen the laws of our nation, our democratic process and to make direct laws that will actually impact Lagos East people and benefit them and also to fight for the right of the women.

“As women, we know how to impact and relate with our people and that is not a case of gender but equality,” she said.